Vaginal irrigator



y 7, 1947. J. c. SHOTTON 2,421,294

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR Filed March 9, 1945 f0 7 INVENTOR. 1 y flaw PatentedMay 27, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAGINAL IRRIGATOR John C.Shotton, Lakewood, hio

Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,832 a 4 Claims.

This invention relates to douches and, as shown herein, is especiallyadapted for use in irrigating vaginas.

It is the general purpose and object of the invention to provide adouche or irrigator which, when used for the purpose specified, willenable the wall of a vagina to be irrigated and/or disinfected in a mosteffective manner.

- A further and more limited object of the invention is to provide aninstrument of this character by means of which the wall of a vagina maybe dilated, whereby the entire surface of the same may be subjected to acleansing and/or disinfecting liquid. Further and more limited objectsof the invention will be realized in and through the construction andarrangement of the parts shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig.1 represents a sectional elevational view of the aforesaid instrumentand of the means for supplying and controlling the flow of an irrigatingand/or disinfecting fluid thereto; Fig. 2 a sectional view, taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. l with a portion of the inflatable jacket broken away;Fig. 3 a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 anelevational view, with parts broken away, of the said inflatable jacket;Fig. 5 an end elevational View of said jacket; and Fig. 6 an elevationalview of the screw plug used with the instrument shown in Fig. 1.

Describing the various parts herein by reference characters, Iii denotesgenerally the body of the douche or irrigator, the said body comprisinga rear tapered portion ll having a shield l2 at the rear or outer endthereof. The front end of the said body is also tapered and comprises aplurality of radially extending ribs l3 providing angular or V-shapedchannels I l therebetween, Which channels receive the irrigating liquidfrom a distributing chamber [5 located centrally of the inner ends ofthe ribs and at the rear ends of the latter and adjacent to and in frontof the rear portion of said body and from outlets I 5 delivering theliquid to said channels. The rear portion ll of the body is providedwith a downwardly and forwardly extending channel l6 for irrigatingliquid, formed therein and within a sleeved extension ll of such rearportion. This channel is contracted at its front or delivery end, asshown at l6, and delivers liquid supplied thereto to the chamber l5 atsaid contracted front or delivery end. The rear portion of the body isalso provided with a downwardly and outwardly extending channel l8formed therein and within a sleeved extension l9, said channel havingits inlet end arranged below the contracted delivery end l6 of thechannel l6 and communicating with the chamber l5 and forming a dischargeoutlet for the irrigating liquid, the front or discharge end of thechannel communicating with the chamber I5 and being located beneath thedelivery end of the channel l6. The sleeved extension is is providedwith a valve 20. A tube 26 is shown as communicating at one end with anelevated receptacle 22 and at its lower end with the end of the sleevedextension H, the said tube being shown as provided with a clip 23. Adischarge tube 24 is shown as connected to the delivery end of thesleeved extension I9.

With the parts constructed and arranged as thus far described, it willbe evident that, With the instrument inserted in place and the shield l2engaging the parts surrounding the exterior of the vagina, an irrigatingand/or disinfecting liquid may be supplied through the pipe 2| to thechamber l5 and distributed thence to and through the channels I4 to thesurface of the wall to be treated, the pressure being regulatable byelevating or lowering the receptacle 22, as well as by manipulating thevalve 20 or the clip 23. It will be evident that, by thus controllingthe flow of liquid to and from the douche or irrigator, the pressure ofthe liquid may be correspondingly variedfrom a pressure merelysufiicient to rinse the wall of the vagina to a pressure sufficient todilate-the wall to an extent to contact the entire surface thereof. Ashas been pointed out hereinbefore, the delivery end of the channel I 6and the inlet end of the channel It both communicate with the chamberIS, the latter channel communicating freely with said chamber. Thearrangement of the inlet and outlet channels with respect to the saidchamber and the location of the chamber with respect to the rear portionof the body enables the liquid to be delivered into the vaginal cavitynear the outer end of the same and to be circulated inwardly (orforwardly of the irrigator) throughout substantially the full length ofsaid cavity before returning to the chamber and being delivered thencethrough the outlet channel. Thus a free in-and-out circulation of theliquid is obtained, thereby insuring a constant dilution of the contentsof the vaginal cavity with Water and which contents can escape freelyand without any blocking or obstruction.

Where, because of the pressure of the liquid employed, there may bedifiiculty in effecting a seal against the escape of liquid other thanthrough the channel 18, I have overcome this to enable the liquiddifiiculty as follows: The surface of the rear portion of the body H isunbroken or continuous and is provided with a threaded aperture 25extending from the channel 16 to the exterior of the body and whichaperture is normally closed by a screw plug 26; and I have provided therear portion H of the body with annular grooves 21 and 28 located onopposite sides of the said aperture. These grooves are for the receptionof a sleeve 29 of inflatable materiahsuch' as rubber, said sleeve havingside flanges or beads 30 which are adapted to fit snugly undercompression within the grooves 21 and 28. It will be evident that, byapplying this sleeve in the manner shown Fig. 1, having first removedthe plug 26,}; rela tively high pressure of the liquid in'the channel IEwill inflate the said sleeve, as shown, thereby providing, with theshield (2, a most effective seal against the escape of liquid exceptthrough the channel 18. The restriction of the outlet from shared it e al hash Pr ssure 9 e bui t Y ree iitv hi ihfiaiiQn iii the 1. the d llehq ir is i as herein. Prim ril ada ed ea e o le islhe r ir i aor var inth d mens i ns v. y .e li@ ii l eh@atmhts i .hrdr and riser wea -id F rheev ihi 9ifi fi th par 9!. he

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3 and .wi 77-1-71- 32:5?431 -t---- Dec. 9., 139(1- uaar sepi. 3, 13.95Li iana muses

